Dianthus plant named ‘WP08 ROS03’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘WP08 ROS03’ that is characterized by upright, vase-shaped habit, semi-double flowers which are uniformly deep salmon-pink in color and which bloom profusely from April until October. In combination these traits set ‘WP08 ROS03’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: Dianthus.

Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: ‘WP08 ROS03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(f)of the application for a grant of European Community Plant BreedersRights which was filed for the instant plant variety on Jun. 30, 2008,Application Number 2008/1509.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardygarden pink or carnation which is grown for use as a flowering plant forpots and containers and for planting in the garden or landscape. The newcultivar is known botanically as Dianthus×hybrida and will be referredto hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘WP08 ROS03’.

‘WP08 ROS03’ is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of a breedingprogram started by the inventor in 1985 and conducted in a cultivatedarea of Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom. The inventorselected ‘WP08 ROS03’ in 2004 for its flowers that are deep salmon pinkin color and semi-double in form.

‘WP08 ROS03’ resulted from the controlled pollination between twounreleased and unpatented varieties, namely Dianthus code number ASH20as female parent plant and Dianthus code number 99.17 as male parentplant.

‘WP08 ROS03’ is distinguishable from the female parent as follows: Thefemale parent has semi-double carmine flowers. The female parent is lessvigorous than ‘WP08 ROS03’. The flowers of the female parent are alsosmaller and are pink with a darker pink eye.

‘WP08 ROS03’ is distinguishable from the male parent as follows: Themale parent is much taller in height and has large single flowers whichare colored carmine with a white border. In addition, the foliage of‘WP08 ROS03’ is green whereas the color of the foliage of the maleparent is gray-green.

The variety of Dianthus which is considered by the inventor to mostclosely resemble ‘WP08 ROS03’ is the inventor's variety Dianthus‘Stardust’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/228,983, filed onAug. 8, 2008). ‘Stardust’ bears flowers which are double in form andpale pink in color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘WP08 ROS03’ was firstaccomplished by the inventor in 2004 in a cultivated area of Houndspool,United Kingdom. The method of asexual propagation used was vegetativecuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar havebeen determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘WP08 ROS03’. These traitsin combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercialvarieties known to the inventor. ‘WP08 ROS03’ has not been tested underall possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Dianthus ‘WP08 ROS03’ exhibits an upright, vase-shaped plant        habit.    -   2. Dianthus ‘WP08 ROS03’ blooms profusely from April until        October.    -   3. Dianthus ‘WP08 ROS03’ bears semi-double flowers which are        uniformly deep salmon-pink in color.    -   4. Dianthus ‘WP08 ROS03’ exhibits green foliage.    -   5. At maturity, the height of the foliage mound of Dianthus        ‘WP08 ROS03’ is 15 cm to 20 cm; the width is 10 cm to 12 cm.    -   6. Dianthus ‘WP08 ROS03’ is perennial and is hardy to −15° C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dianthus variety ‘WP08 ROS03’ showing colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘WP08 ROS03’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an entire flowering plant.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flower.

All drawings were made of 9 months old plants which have been grown in1.5-liter containers in a cold glasshouse in Devon, United Kingdom. Nochemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possibleby conventional photography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘WP08ROS03’. Data was collected in spring from 1.5-liter container plants inspring, and grown indoors in Devon, United Kingdom. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The colors of stems, leaves, calyx, and epicalyxhave been noted on plants which retain the characteristic waxy bloom ofDianthus. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditionsare typical to other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Genus.—Dianthus.        -   Species.—×allwoodii.        -   Denomination.—‘WP08 ROS03’.-   Parentage: A complex Dianthus hybrid whose immediate parents are    unreleased hybrids from the inventor's breeding program, identified    as follows:    -   -   Male parent.—Selection 99.17.        -   Female parent.—Selection ASH20.-   Use of plant: As a flowering plant in containers, window boxes,    planters, pots and the garden.-   Bloom period: April-October.-   Plant habit: Upright vase-shaped with dense branching.-   Height of plant: 15 to 20 cm after 9 months.-   Width of plant: 10 to 12 cm after 9 months.-   Hardiness: Hardy at least to minus 15 Centigrade.-   Plant type: Perennial herb.-   Root system: many fibrous roots.-   Propagation method: by vegetative stem cuttings.-   Cultural requirements: Grow in full sun, in well drained and    moderately fertile soil, keep well fertilized and watered.-   Diseases and pests: No particular resistance or susceptibility to    Dianthus diseases and pests are known to the inventor.-   Time to root cuttings: 5 weeks is required to produce roots on a    vegetative cutting.-   Temperature for rooting: A minimum of 15° C. air temperature and    21° C. base temperature at root level is required to produce roots    on the cuttings.-   Facilities for rooting: A mist propagation unit is required for    satisfactory rooting of cuttings.-   Crop time: 3 months starting in the Spring and 6 months starting in    the Fall.-   Plant stem:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Dimensions.—        -   Height.—7 to 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 to 4 mm.        -   Surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.        -   Color.—145B, 145C at the node.        -   Branching.—Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower            leaves.        -   Internode length (between nodes).—8 to 10 mm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Shape.—Linear, straight.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Decurrent.        -   Venation.—Not prominent.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite and spiraling on stem.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Surface adaxial.—Glaucous.        -   Surface abaxial.—Glaucous.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Dimensions.—Length: 50 to 60 mm. Width: 4 mm.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface: N138A. Abaxial surface: N138A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower stem dimension.—Length: 10 to 15 cm. Width: 2 mm.            Stem strength: Erect. Color: 133B to 133C.        -   Type.—Cymose.        -   Form.—Salviform, symmetrical.        -   Development.—Singly, in sequence from the uppermost bud.-   Bud:    -   -   Color.—183D.        -   Dimensions.—15 mm in length and 99 mm in width.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.-   Flowers:    -   -   Number.—3 to 5 per stem.        -   Dimensions.—Length including calyx: 31 to 33 mm. Diameter:            30 to 32 mm.        -   Flower shape.—Circular.        -   Flower profile.—Flat to convex.        -   Lastingness.—10 days at 20° C., on or off the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Delicate.        -   Flowering period.—April to October.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape (upper part of corolla).—Convex.        -   Shape (lower part of corolla).—Flat.        -   Petal arrangement.—Persistent, semi-double, overlapping.        -   Petal margin.—Crenate-dentate.        -   Indentation.—0.5 to 1 mm deep.        -   Petal texture.—Soft.        -   Flower type.—Semi-double.        -   Petal number.—10 to 15.        -   Petal dimension.—Length: 32 to 34 mm. Width: 17 mm.        -   Color pattern.—Uniform, self-colored throughout.        -   Color of upper surface.—Ground color of blade: 52B. Color of            middle of strap (basal attachment): 145C. Color of base of            strap: 145D.        -   Color of lower surface.—Ground color of blade: 52B to 52C.            Color of middle of strap: 145C. Color of base of strap:            145D.        -   Petal shape.—Obdeltoid.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous, flat.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Longitudinal profile.—Flat.        -   Dimensions.—Length: 19 to 20 mm. Diameter: 7 mm.        -   Sepals.—Fused.        -   Sepals number.—5.        -   Sepals color.—143A at apex, 145B elsewhere.        -   Anthocyanin.—No.        -   Splitting.—No.-   Epicalyx:    -   -   Bracts number.—1 pair of 2.        -   Shape of outer lobe.—Acuminate.        -   Dimensions.—Width: 5 mm. Length: 6 mm.        -   Color.—N138A at the apex; 142C elsewhere.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Bracteoles:    -   -   Number.—1 pair of 2.        -   Dimensions.—Width: 7 to 8 mm. Length: 6 to 8 mm.        -   Color.—N138A on the tip and 142C on sides.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 2. Color of filaments: White. Dimensions:            Length: 18 to 22 mm. Diameter: 0.5 mm.        -   Anthers.—Number: 5 with usually 5 additional petaloid            anthers. Color: 73B to 73C. Dimensions: Length: 2 to 3 mm.            Diameter: 1 mm. Attachment: Dorsifixed. Pollen: Present            occasionally. Color: 157A.        -   Style.—Number: 2. Shoulder: Absent. Color: White.        -   Dimensions (at maturity style and stigma).—Length: 25 mm.            Width: 0.5 to 1 mm.        -   Stigma.—Number: One per style. Color: 59D. Dimensions: 5 to            8 mm above flower.        -   Ovary.—Position: Superior. Dimensions: Length: 8 mm.            Diameter: 5 mm. Shape: Spindle. Color upper: 145A to 143C.            Color lower: 145C.        -   Seed.—Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘WP08 ROS03’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.